A chief magistrates’ court on Tuesday ordered that a former Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Idris Wada-Saleh, be remanded in Kano State Public Complaints and Anti Corruption Commission(PCACC) Custody over alleged N1 billion fraud.

The defendant, a commissioner to former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, is charged with giving false information and cheating.

Chief Magistrate Tijjani Sale-Minjibir ordered the defendant’s remand in PCACC custody for 12 days, pending a ruling in his bail application.

The magistrate adjourned until July 14.

Earlier, the prosecution counsel, Salisu Tahir, assistant director of PCACC, told the court that the defendant was arrested on July 3 at about 2:30 p.m.

He alleged that the defendant released N1 billion to Arafat construction company, No Stone construction company and Multi resources to rehabilitate 30 roads in the metropolis that were not carried out.

Mr Tahir filed an exparte pursuant to section 295(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law(ACJL)2019, urging the court to remand the defendant at PCACC custody for 14 days to enable them to complete the investigation.

“The defendant has a case to answer in the N1 billion belonging to the Kano State government.

“The exparte application is supported by seven paragraphs deposed by one Insp Sa’id Ilu, attached with six voucher exhibits.”

He urged the court to grant the application to enable the agency to file a proper charge against the defendant in the interest of justice.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.

According to the prosecutor, the offence contravened section 26 of PCACC 2010 as amended and section 322 of the Penal Code.

The defence counsel, Mustapha Idris, prayed the court to grant the defendant bail pursuant to sections 35(6) and 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

(NAN)